Reservoir or tank apparatus for water-closets



(No Model.)

v G. W HUBBARD.

RESERVOIR 0R TANK APPARATUS FOR WATER OLOSETS.

Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

FIGJ- frllfrllllll N. PUERs Pholo hllmglqplmr Unwrap STATES PATENTrrrcn.

GEORGE IV. HUBBARD, OF BROQKLYN, NEYV YORK.

RESERVOlR OR TANK APPARATUS FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

iaPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,367, datedFebruary 21, 1888.

Application filed October 20, 1887. Serial No. 352,924. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HUBBARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of N cw York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reservoir or TankApparatus for \Vater-Closets, of which the following specification is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of apparatus inwhich there is a closed tank, so that the inflow of water is stopped bythe accumulation of pressure therein; but certain parts thereof are notrestricted to such apparatus and maybe employed in any relation to whichthey are or may be suited. It comprises a new or improved combination ofa closed tank, a self-acting valve, especially a selfiactingfloat-valve, and a specially-arranged air or waste-water pipe, andcertain other new or improved constructions and combinations,hereinafter particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure I is a sectional elevation of a reservoir or tank apparatus forwaterclosets constructed in accordance with the invention, and Fig. II aplan of one of the parts thereof.

The water tank or reservoir A is of cylindrical form, with a height manytimes exceed ing its diameter. It is arrangedin an upright position. Ithas a bottom in one piece with its sides, and it is closed at the top bya head, B, secured by bolts 1 and nuts 2 but any suitable closed tankcould be employed, and so far as certain parts of the invention areconcerned it is not necessary that it should be closed. This tank A isupheld by the pipe 0, which is interposed between the said tank and anenlarged base or foot, D, so as to form a conduit communicating withsaid tank as well as a support for upholding the same. It is connectedwith base or foot I) by the T-coupliug 3 and with the bottom of the tankby straight coupling 4, externally and internally threaded but anysuitable connecting means could be used.

The water is introduced into the tank A through the pipe 0, which thusbecomes the water-inlet pipe, and in order to avoid emptying the tankwhen water is drawn in other parts of the house it is preferred toextend the said pipe to the upper part of the tank A, the

extension, as shown, being formed by an additional section of a pipe, E,secured into the coupling 4. A check-valve could also be placed in thepipe 0, if desired.

The discharge-valve F, when closed, prevents the water escaping from thetank A, and when opened allows it to pass into the discharge-pipe G, forconveying it to the hopper or bowl to be flushed. A discharge-valve ofany suitable construction could be used; but it is preferred to employ avalve of the special construction hereinafter set forth.

The pipe H is a combined air and wastewater pipe. It opens through thebranch 5 into the outside air, through the branch 6 into the interior ofthe tank A, and through the branch 7 into the space below or on thedischarge side of the valve F. Consequently air may pass by said pipeinto the tank A, and any Water which may enter the said pipe is conveyedinto the dischargepipe. The end of the branch 5 is closed by aself-acting valve, I, which, when seated, prevents the egress of air orwater, so that the pressure on the tank will then accumulate until itequals that of the Water-service and stops the inflow of water. Acheck-valve is a self-acting valve and could be used, it being arrangedto open inward; but itis preferred to secure the automatic operation ofthe valve by means of afloat, 8, which closes the valve when the waterreaches a certain level in the tank and opens it when the water fallsbelow that level.

The use of any suitable fioat-valvc would be within the invention; butit is preferred to employ one having the improved constructionshowntha-t is to say, the float 8 and the valve proper, 9, are connectedby a lever, 10, which is fulcrumed in a fulcrum-piece, ll,which can beadjusted vertically, in order that the valve may rest flat on its seat12. The seat 12 is formed of a bushing inserted into the end of thebranch pipe 6, and the fulcrum-piece 11 consists of a collar whichsurrounds the said pipe, and is provided with a set-screw, 18, forbinding it in place; but of course the valveseat need not be formed by abushing, and other means could be employed to render the fulcrum-pieceadjustable. Any leakage past the valve I is carried away by the pipe Hinto the discharge-pipe. The lower end of the pipe H is screwed into thebottom of the tank A and its upper end passes through the head B, atight joint being formed between said head and the nut 14 by screwingdown the nuts 2.

The head B is depressed in the middle, so as to retain any water whichmight leak through thejoint, and the pipe I-I drains the saiddepression.

The hollow casting K is secured under the bottom of the tank A by meansof bolts 15 and nuts 28, the bolts being arranged in a circle at equaldistances apart, so that said casting can be adjusted into differentpositions around a vertical axis. In order to change it from oneposition to another, it is removed, turned to the proper extent, andreplaced with the bolts in other holes. The object of having it adjustable in this way is to facilitate setting up by avoiding thenecessity for making joints, the hole for receiving the discharge-pipe Gbeing in the side of said casting and the adjusting of the castingbringing it into different positions relatively to the other parts ofthe apparatus, whose position in the room it may not be desirable tochange.

In order that thepipe H may be in free communication with the interiorof the casting K in all positions of the latter, the circular passage 16is provided beneath the lower end of the pipe H, so that its relation tosaid pipe is not altered by shifting the casting.

The dischargevalve F is provided with a stem, 17, of iron or steel,which is fastened to the metal head 18, and is surrounded by a brasstube, 19, securely fixed thereon, and the packing 20 of said valve isconfined between the said head 18 and a metal washer,21,which bearsagainst the end of the tube 19. This valve is easily manufactured, andthe brass protects the iron or steel from corrosion,works with lessfriction, and is more easily packed where it passes through the bottomof the casting. The seat for the discharge-valve F is made on the hollowcasting, and while this is preferred it is not essential. There are alsobrass bushings 22 and 23 for the valve-stem 17 19. The lower bushing,23, is extended to the level of the discharge-pipe G, so that there willbe no opportunity for sediment to settle on or around the valve-stem,and thus be worked into the joint. At the bottom of the bushing 23 is apacking-ring, 24., and a metal washer, 25, which are held in place bythe spiral compression-spring 2G, interposed between said washer and thecollar 27 on the valve-stem.

This spring assists in drawing the valve to its the discharge-valve F islifted, the water escapes through the hollow casting K and thedischarge-pipe G.

Modifications may be made in details with out departing from the spiritof the invention, and parts of the invention may be used separately.

The conduit 0, which enters into and forms a support for the tank A,forms no part of the present invention; but the right is reserved ofmaking a separate application for it and the combinations or apparatusof which it is an element.

I claim as my invention or discovery-- 1. The combination, with theclosed tank having water inlet and discharge pipes, and provided, also,with a discharge-valve, of the air or waste-water pipe having threebranches or openings, through one of which it communicates with theinterior of the tank, through another with the outside atmosphere, andthrough the third with the discharge-pipe beyond the discharge-valve,and a self-acting valve which closes the opening into the tank,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the closed tank having water inlet anddischarge pipes, and provided, also, witha discharge-valve, of the airor waste-water pipe having three branches or openings, through one ofwhich it communicates with the interior of the tank, through anotherwith the outside atmosphere, and through the third with thedischarge-pipe beyond the discharge-valve, and a self-acting float-valvewhich closes the opening into the tank, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the tank having the discharge-opening in thebottom and provided with a discharge-valve, and a hollow casting havinga side opening to receive the discharge-pipe and secured to the bottomof said tank below said discharge-opening by means which permit saidcasting to be adjusted about a vertical axis to present said sideopening in different directions, of a wastewater or air pipe whichcommunicates with the interior of said casting below the discharge-valvethrough a circular passage at the outside of said casting adjacentto'said tank, so that on adjustment of said casting there is stillcommunication with said pipe, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the hollow casting having a side opening andthe dischargepipe inserted in said opening, of the dischargevalve havinga stem which projects through the bottom of said castin and the bushingin said bottom around said stem, which bushing extends upward to thelevel of the discharge-pipe, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the closed tank, of the water-inlet pipe, theair or waste-water IIO pipe having three branches or openings, thelifting the valve by acting on said stem snl 1o float-valve applied toone of said branches or stantiailly as described. openings, the hollowcasting communicating In testimony whereof I have signed this with saidpipe through another of said specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

branches or openin s and havin an outletopening in the side, the dischai'ge-pipe in- GEORGE HUBBARD serted in said outlet-opening, thediseharge- Witnesses: valve having a depending stem which ex- JONATHANHALL,

tends through said casting, and means for l JAS. S. HALL.

